Ishikawa's third-sector railway operator, IR Ishikawa Railway, launched its first rapid train service on March 15, marking a major milestone since the company's establishment in 2015. The new service aims to improve convenience for commuters and students traveling between Kanazawa and Daishoji.
With this development, all three prefectures along the Hokuriku Shinkansen corridor—Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui—have now introduced rapid train services on their parallel conventional rail lines.
A departure ceremony was held at Daishoji Station in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture, where IR Ishikawa Railway’s Executive Director Takao Takayuki expressed hopes that passengers would appreciate the increased convenience of the rapid service.
The new rapid train reduces travel time between Kanazawa and Daishoji to a minimum of 38 minutes, cutting at least 10 minutes compared to regular trains.
Morning services run toward Kanazawa, while evening trains return to Daishoji.
As the Hokuriku region modernizes its railway infrastructure, the expansion of rapid transit raises questions about future developments—will further service enhancements be introduced to keep pace with growing transportation needs?.